courtneyclv
10-04-2003, 09:05 AM
I have been on these posts for a few months complaining about my IBS and how nothng helps my constipation. Ive tried Miralax, Zelnorm, Librax, fiber supplements, colonic cleansing, probiotics etc. I also had a colonoscopy. I NEVER have the feeling to go to the bathroom. Once i didnt go for 2 weeks. I am on the meds still and they dont work so once a week i have to take stimulant laxative pills. Enemas and even 4 glycerin suppositories dont work. I get bloated and gain 5 lbs when I dont go to the bathroom in the week. I know the laxatives are bad but nobody, including my doctor knows what I should do to go to the bathroom? (I have paid about $300 in the last month getting colonics just so I can 'go'. I have called the nurse after a week of not going to the bathroom and they tell me.."just keep taking everything"..even though its been over a month on the medicine.
What should I do?
What should I do?
Sponsor
mlgable
10-05-2003, 02:15 AM
You need to see a gastroenterologist to find out why you don't have the feeling of the need to have a BM. In the meantime you need to work on retraining your bowels. Start with Metamucil 3 times daily as directed on the label. Use colace aka docusate to help keep your stools soft if they are hard until you get things under control. Drink prune juice or eat prunes every day at meals. Sit on the toilet for 5 minutes EVERY day after breakfast whether you have a BM or not. Increase your water intake to at least 2 quarts daily. If you haven't had a BM by the third day go ahead and try a glycerin suppository. If this is not effective then use a baking soda enema by mixing about a teaspoon or so of baking soda per quart of lukewarm water. Try to be sure to retain the solution for about 5 minutes before you expel it if you do need to use an enema. If you don't have sufficient results repeat with another baking soda enema or you may try a soap suds enema. Just remember to follow the soap suds enema with a baking soda enema if used as the castile soap can be harsh on the colon if not flushed out. You many possibly have something called mega colon but see a gastroenterologist to find out what is causing your problems.
Dave Kear
10-05-2003, 04:40 AM
You need to rest your digestive system. The best way to do this is to go on a complete fast (distilled water only) If you can't do this drink fresh juices only, no food at all. If you break your arm you need to rest it. Push ups are great excersises for healthy arms. But if they're broken they need to rest in order to get well. Same with your digestive system. this goes for any digestive disease. We all have more reserves than most of us realize. A complete fast of 2 or 3 weeks, or more, will achieve incredible results. You should have some knowledge of what you're doing though. I'd recomend the book "fasting can save your life" by Herbert Shelton. Also, there are places that are run by doctors that provide supervised fasting.
courtneyclv
10-05-2003, 08:42 AM
I have seen a specialist..how else could I have had a colonoscopy. He has no clue and I cant afford to see more doctors. I understand that fasting could work. Colonics work for about a week when I am all cleaned out..but then I get all bloated and constipated. I always try to 'start over' when I am all empty. How are the homemade enemas better for you then the onces at the store?
Dave Kear
10-05-2003, 02:30 PM
The reason why all of us are having these digestive problems is because of years of wrong living. Eating too much, not watching correct food combinations, eating foods with chemicals, eating too much meat, caffeine, refined flours and sugar etc. etc.
When we treat these digestive diseases, we tend to treat the symptoms. This does nothing to stop the problems. When you force the body to act (laxatives, enemas) and you don't handle the cause of the disease, it's going to get worse. Stop trying to force the body with drugs and stimulating therapies. You need to rest more than anything else. Then you need to correct your way of life. Eat mostly organic raw fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts, learn about proper food combining. There's too much to go into here. Start with the book "Fasting can save your life" by Herbert Shelton. I don't give this advice lightly. I do so after many years of struggling with health problems. You need to educate yourself properly. It's a jungle out there, and there's lots of contradicting advice. Most of which will make you sicker. Do what makes the most sense to you. I offer another avenue for you to check out. Here's a head start. http://www.anhs.org/health.htm
When we treat these digestive diseases, we tend to treat the symptoms. This does nothing to stop the problems. When you force the body to act (laxatives, enemas) and you don't handle the cause of the disease, it's going to get worse. Stop trying to force the body with drugs and stimulating therapies. You need to rest more than anything else. Then you need to correct your way of life. Eat mostly organic raw fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts, learn about proper food combining. There's too much to go into here. Start with the book "Fasting can save your life" by Herbert Shelton. I don't give this advice lightly. I do so after many years of struggling with health problems. You need to educate yourself properly. It's a jungle out there, and there's lots of contradicting advice. Most of which will make you sicker. Do what makes the most sense to you. I offer another avenue for you to check out. Here's a head start. http://www.anhs.org/health.htm
JanettoB
10-05-2003, 04:37 PM
Hey Courtney,
My gastroenterologist has told me that Asians have taken senna laxatives from the time they are very young to the time they are very old with no problems.
I have struggled with constipation all of my life. As a result, I have a huge stretched out colon, hemorrhoids, working on a rectocele, and a slighty prolapsed rectum. Constipation can also lead to diverticulosis.
So, looking back on all of this.....It might be better to take a senna laxative/psyllium(metamucil) combination EVERYDAY as I am doing now.....and prevent what happened to me.
Sure, we'd all like to be able to poop everyday like most normal people do........but some systems are just not normal.
I usually do pretty good with a breakfast off "All-Bran Extra Fiber" every morning. But, if I miss just one morning......I'm in trouble. Even after I am on the All Bran for several months, I have to take a break from it because it stops working. IBS Constipation is the pits.
My gastroenterologist has told me that Asians have taken senna laxatives from the time they are very young to the time they are very old with no problems.
I have struggled with constipation all of my life. As a result, I have a huge stretched out colon, hemorrhoids, working on a rectocele, and a slighty prolapsed rectum. Constipation can also lead to diverticulosis.
So, looking back on all of this.....It might be better to take a senna laxative/psyllium(metamucil) combination EVERYDAY as I am doing now.....and prevent what happened to me.
Sure, we'd all like to be able to poop everyday like most normal people do........but some systems are just not normal.
I usually do pretty good with a breakfast off "All-Bran Extra Fiber" every morning. But, if I miss just one morning......I'm in trouble. Even after I am on the All Bran for several months, I have to take a break from it because it stops working. IBS Constipation is the pits.
mlgable
10-06-2003, 10:29 AM
A commercial enema is rather harsh on your system and doesn't contain nearly enough liquid to be effect for true constipation as well as the fact the you cannot get the liquid up high enough to do an effective job. A baking soda enema is gentaler and won't deplete your electrolytes so bad as well as the fact that you need 1-2 quarts of the warm solution to do an effective job. Without using at least about a quart of liquid you cannot do an effective job. Store bought enemas are fine for the individual who winds up constipated on vacation and wants quick relief or the person who just had a baby and is having trouble with their first BM after the baby but for true constipation and bowel problems they just aren't effective and can be harsh if needed routinely.
courtneyclv
10-06-2003, 11:49 PM
How do I get the 'equiptment' for a baking soda enema or a homeade one? Are these safe to do once a week if I cannot go rather than a stimulant?
mlgable
10-07-2003, 02:42 AM
Douche/enema bags are sold in your local drug department of most stores. Baking soda is found in your kitchen. If you are unfamiliar with giving yourself an enema then you may want to read how to do it on the web. Basically you need to fill the bag with warm tap water and add a teaspoon of baking soda. Be sure the clamp is shut off before you fill the bag. Once the bag is full find something about 16-18 inches higher than where you plan to take the enema to hang the bag up. Often times you can find something to hang the bag on near the tub in the bathroom. Put some KY jelly on the on the end of the enema nozzle and and gently insert it into your rectum. Lying on your side gently open the clamp and allow the water to flow. If you feel a sudden need to use the toilet close the clamp and take some slow deep breaths until the feeling goes away and then slowly open the clamp again. If you feel cramping you can massage your stomach to relieve them. Once you have taken as much of the fluid as you can hold close off the clamp and withdraw the nozzle and try to retain the solution for at least 5 minutes before you expell it.
BethyM
10-11-2003, 12:25 PM
Hey, try searching the web on how to do colon cleansing and relieve constipation using vitamin c, magnesium or aloe....they are all supposed to be non stimulant and work my drawing water into your bowels to soften whatever is stuck in there.....you may need to wean yourself off stimulant laxatives simultaneously, instead of quitting cold turkey......
Spirit
10-15-2003, 11:00 AM
I understand what your are going thru,I have done the colonics too just for relieve. THan i have to start over. Bad thing for me is i have diverticulitis.Been to doctors and even a gastrol specialist. everysingle one tells me to take fiber and laxatives. I have taken so many laxatives i think it has ruined me. I want to state that senna is a harsh laxative. take fiber daily with lots of water-nothing. the urge sort of comes than goes awy just like that. It has been 4 days for me and very ill. I have no pain just bloat. I even tried to talk to doc about mega colon and nothing from them. Right now I just want someone to shoot me. I dont like suffering like this. Yes I also do the priobiotics. and prunes and etc etc. so now what? feels like it is all on my right side and on top and have a bulge on left side. I can feel it. This is terrible. no pain though.I take 2 tsps of fiber a day. I have done magnesium citrate which just cramps me bad. aloe i get a bad urge and run to toiler and just some liguid and little stool. I have been under an extreme amount of stress. trying things to reduce that. still nothing. I am doomed!
mlgable
10-15-2003, 11:30 AM
If by the THIRD day you haven't had a decent BM then you need to use a glycerin suppository and if that doesn't work well then use a baking soda enema. As for the fiber therapy you can use this up to three times a day so if you aren't using it that often then do that. Also be sure to sit on the toilet for 5 minutes every day after breakfast to try to get your bowels regulated whether you go or not. According my newest book 80% of patients with slow transit and 63% of patients with a disorder of defecation did not respond to dietary fiber treatments. To help with peristalic action it recommends: On an empty stomach, certain nutrients have been shown to induce healthy colon peristalis. One combination is 4-8 grams of vitamin C powder and 1500 mg of magnesium oxide powder taken with the juice of a freshly squeezed grapefruit. A convenient product sold by several vitamin companies is a buffered vitamin C powder product that contains magnesium and potassium salts mixed with ascorbic acid. Depending on the individual, a few teaspoons or, in some cases 1-2 TBSP of this biffered vitamin C powder produces a powerful but safe laxative effect within 45 minutes. it also say Vitamin B5 in a dose of 2000-3000mg on an empty stomach will produce rapid evacuation of bowel contents. It also talks about using Chitosan: take six 1000 mg capsules of chitosan before each meal with one 1000mg capsule of vitamin C. I personally don't know any one who has tried these homeopathic remedies but thought I would post it in case someone wants to give it a try.